Simple tips and advice on how to improve your home with this expert Home Improvement Blog.

Author: Easy Home Improvement

If you have not decorated or updated the interior of your home in a while, it can start to look tired and dreary after a while. There are many things that you can go to counter this, and below are some ideas that will help you turn your home into a vibrant and inviting place once more.

Add Some New Furniture

One of the easiest ways that you can transform your home is the addition of new furniture. You do not have to do your entire home all in one go and can update the furniture one room at a time, which will also mean you do not have to break the bank. You may wish to choose some Art Deco bedroom furniture for one of the bedrooms or go with something more modern and contemporary. Changing the furniture in your home is one of the least disruptive ways that you can transform it with as little hassle as possible.

Decorate Your Home

Another way that you can transform the inside of your home is to decorate either with wallpaper or paint and breathe new life into the rooms. If you are not going to change the furniture, you will need to choose a colour scheme that is going to match the furniture and the flooring. You can do this one room at a time and ensure there is not too much disruption. You can choose to decorate your home yourself, although if you are not very good at decorating and DIY, you can also choose to employ the services of a professional who will be able to do the job very quickly. The price for this can vary, so it will all come down to the budget that you have available.

Change The Flooring

You can also change the flooring in your home which is another way to give it a new lease of life and improve the aesthetics of the interior of your house. There are many different options available to you as you can choose from a wide variety of different carpeting, as well as other materials such as vinyl flooring, or you can also decide to install wooden floors. The best choice is going to be determined by your taste, budget, and the state of the floor underneath. If your floors are uneven, then wooden flooring may not be the best option. Again, if you have the skills and time, this is something that you can do yourself. Alternatively, you can employ the services of a professional flooring company and have them transform your home in no time at all.

If you have the budget and the time, you can also choose all the above which will go a long way in transforming your home and make you feel as if you have a new house entirely. Using a combination of the above methods will have your home transformed into the envy of your neighbours.

Pouring concrete at any time requires care and attention, but doing so in cold weather means there’s other factors that need to be taken into account if the pouring project is to be a success. In this article, the team at Total Concrete will be detailing the ways you can ensure that your cold-weather concrete pour goes smoothly.

Schedule the delivery in advance

Cold weather can cause havoc on the roads, and there’s nothing worse than a project being delayed because a delivery is held up by traffic. Make sure your concrete delivery is scheduled in good time – being organised will only serve you well in the colder months, and getting your concrete on time will help you avoid any last minute transportation issues.

Wear the right clothing

The right clothing is important for two reasons: it will help keep you warm in the cold weather, and it will also protect you from damage to skin that can occur when coming into contact with wet concrete. Wear plenty of layers, and make sure to wear protective gloves and goggles if you’re handling the concrete yourself.

Do not pour on frozen ground

Pouring concrete on frozen ground will cause the fresh concrete to freeze if the temperature is below -4°c. Concrete companies can include hot water in their mixes to raise the temperature of the concrete, preventing it from freezing upon contact with the ground. As well as hot water, you can use portable heaters on the ground to thaw the surface and make it more accommodating for your concrete before you pour it.

Use the right concrete grade

Using the right grade of concrete is crucial to the success of the project, especially if it’s ready mix concrete. A winter mix of ingredients is required for a cold-weather pour, including accelerants to speed up the curing and setting of the concrete, warm water for the mix and avoiding ingredients such as slag or fly ash.

Have help where possible

The more people you have on hand to help you, the quicker the project will be, and the quicker the project is, the less time there is for the concrete to potentially freeze and disrupt the process. This is particularly pertinent to offloading the concrete from the truck.

As you can see, there are a number of precautions to take when carrying out a concrete pour in cold weather. If you follow these tips, you’re much more likely to avoid any mishaps due to frosty weather, and your concrete project will progress as you’d hoped.

Total Concrete Ltd are experts in the delivery and pumping of the highest quality concrete mixes throughout Surrey and Woking. For more information about the work we do, get in touch with us today.

When you are decorating your living space, you might tend to forget about soundproofing it. However, there are a lot of creative ways in which you can efficiently use home decor to soundproof your home. Your home is the place you are entitled to feel peaceful and the unnecessary noise does not have to get in the way.

Be it a creeping sound or the disturbing sound from the outdoors, noise certainly makes us feel tenser than we realise. A quiet home is welcoming and you can make it soundproof using some amazing and creative home decor ideas. Here are some cheap ideas for home decor that you can use to soundproof your home.

Add rugs to touch floors

Sound bounces off any hard surface that it can find and this might contribute to noise. Wooden floors, as well as open spaces, are the areas wherein sound can reverberate and echo. To reduce the sound, all that you have to do is to add some good quality rugs to the wooden floor.

You can also go for carpets, but the beauty of installing rugs is that they are less permanent and you can change them with time. Thus, they are also more cost effective and also helps you to get the job done. You can add rugs to your floor for using as sound absorbers. Any type of sound will not be reflected resulting in noise reduction.

Invest in quality curtains

Quality curtains not only help you in adding to the aesthetic appeal of your abode but also act as good sound absorbers. Curtains that are made with a thick material such as velvet, wool or a tightly woven fabric act as a good sound absorber.

They absorb the sound from outside and also reduce the extra sound that comes from outside. To make it even more effective, you can hang the curtains high and let them drop on the floor. Curtains made with thick materials are way more efficient.

Showcase your book collection

Did you know that adding more furniture does wonders when it comes to soundproofing? That’s tight! You can add a book collection in your apartment or house to soundproof your space. Not only does it absorb sound but it also gives your living space a gorgeous look.

You can very well utilise all the extra space that is there between the floor and ceiling using a book collection. You can also choose to put decorative wall art as an alternative and it will work similarly.

Opt for furnishings that are soft

If you are going to buy new furniture, then you can go for furnishings that are soft. You can switch to soft furniture wherever you can. However, you cannot get rid of your old stuff, but you can definitely modify them and augment them with furnishings that are soft.

Since noise reverberates off the hard surfaces, you should consider soft furnishings that will immensely reduce the noise. For instance, if you are going to buy furniture, then you can opt for an upholstered bench instead of going for a hard coffee table.

Buy a rug pad

While thick rugs work just fine, when you add a rug pad underneath it, it works even better. Buy a thick rug pad that you can use under the rug and see the difference for yourself. It will also help when you have to move your furniture around.

If you do not wish to go for rug pads then you can opt for multiple rugs that you can pile up on each other to achieve your desired style. For instance, you can layer a geometric weave rug on a sisal area rug to make it look stunning and act as a soundproof.

Use as many pillows as you can

This is yet another simple tip that will tremendously help you in reducing the noise while increasing the style quotient of your space. You can invest in pillows that can be used in your living room as well as the bedroom. Use as many pillows as you can to absorb the noise.

The material of the pillow is also an important factor to consider and you should opt for pillows that are fluffier and bigger than normal ones. They will be optimum for reducing the noise. Pillows also add a fresh look to your decor and you can add in some decorative covers for them in order to make them look great.

Soundproofing paint

You can effectively reduce the noise by using soundproofing paint in your apartment or house. If you are going to repaint your house soon enough then go for the paint that is specially designed to soundproof your place.

This type of paint might be a little costly but it will be worth investing in the long term. With soundproofing paint in place, you will not have to worry much about the sound reverberating as it will be absorbed by the walls.

Soundproofing wallpapers

You can also opt for soundproofing wallpapers that you can specifically put in the rooms of your apartment which require it the most. The soundproof wallpapers are designed to absorb all the noise and so it is a great way of soundproofing your space.

However, check with your budget before you invest in soundproofing wallpapers as you might want to go for other viable options if you are staying in a rented apartment. But in case you are staying in an apartment that is your own, then you go for long-term solutions like this.

Thus, with the help of the tips mentioned above, you can soundproof your apartment. These creative ideas for home decor can prove really beneficial and you can see the results for yourself. While implementing the options, you should carefully take your budget into consideration.

The decor you choose also depends on whether you own the apartment or are staying in a rented space. This is because you cannot make significant changes to the apartment if it is a rented one. So, you can evaluate your options and then choose the soundproofing decor you want to go for.

As a cornerstone of security, convenience and beauty of your home, garage doors need a little TLC to keep them performing well and looking great. Regular maintenance and servicing is the key to restoring the quality of your garage door and avoiding any problems down the line. This article was written by Doormatic Garage Doors, experts in both installing new doors and providing garage door maintenance services across London, Surrey, Kent and the South East of England.

Is garage door servicing worth it?

The sure answer is, yes! Looking after a valuable element of your property will always be advantageous for its longevity, quality and performance. The benefits of garage and maintenance include:

Cost-Effective

Ensuring that simple and regular maintenance tasks are carried out on your door a few times a year is much cheaper than needing to replace an entire garage door, should faults be neglected. A bi-annual servicing by a professional is recommended, along with regular visual checks performed by you, the owner, on a regular basis.

Enhances the Safety of Your Family and Vehicle

Garage doors are heavy machines with lots of mechanical components keeping them operational. Should a door malfunction at the wrong moment, it has the potential to injure nearby people and animals, as well as your vehicle. Regular maintenance and checks can reduce the likelihood of malfunctions occurring.

Protects the Security of Your Property

A main function of garage doors is to act as a strong, reliable barrier between the contents of your garage and potential thieves. That’s why you should try not to allow weak spots and potential entry points to go unnoticed, and make sure you catch problems early to avoid break-in risks.

Avoids DIY and Amateur Mistakes

There is no harm in performing occasional visual checks of your garage door to try and spot issues, but correction of real issues should always be undertaken by a professional – even the most technically-adept DIY enthusiast may worsen the problem, or risk injury to themselves, in an attempt to fix the door.

Warning signs you garage door may need servicing

Is your garage door making a bizarre sound? Perhaps it is a little stiffer, looser or slower than normal? While these signs could see minor, they should never be ignored as they may be signs of garage door deterioration or damage, which could eventually transform into an unsafe situation. Surefire signs that you may need the assistance of a garage door specialist include:

Unusual noises

Door closes too quickly or too slowly

Door will not close completely

Door will not stay open

The outside has cracks or gaps in door

Contact a reliable local company who can inform you of what’s involved in a garage door service, and how they can help diagnose, maintain and repair your garage door.

Taking on any project, whether it’s commercial or domestic, can be chaotic and there will no doubt be an abundance of waste materials. From soil and rubble, to plasterboards, fixtures and fittings; it all needs to be transported to a licensed waste site.

For that reason, a skip is the ideal solution to your problems. No matter how much waste you have – or intend to produce – there is a skip for any project.

Small skips – 7-12 yards

Whether you’re planning on doing some landscaping work while the good weather holds, or you want to tear out your old bathroom to remodel it, small skips will save you a lot of back and forth from the local authority site.

Skip hire of 7 to 12 yards in size can take garden waste, mixed waste and rubble from home extensions and other small building projects. These are often small enough to be left on your drive or elsewhere on your property, avoiding the need for a permit, and can be delivered and collected at times to suit your project.

Roro 20 yard

Got a commercial project where you’re producing general mixed waste, bricks and aggregates? Then a 20 yard roro could be the right choice for you. These robust and large skips can handle your waste and allow your to keep your site clean. You don’t need to wait around for waste to be moved out of the way, so you can stick to the timeline scheduled for your project.

Perfect for those smaller commercial projects, but where you have enough waste to dispose of, this 20 yard skip will save you having to order multiple over a long period as it is able to take a lot more waste than a regular skip.

Roro 40 yard

If you are operating on a large scale , a 40 yard RORO will be your best option. This skip container allows you to pile the waste high and is great for construction waste.

You can also throw your light recyclables and bulky waste in a 40 yard roro and probably have room to spare. Your site might otherwise become messy with piles of waste, or could become congested with vehicles if you regularly have to order fresh skips in a smaller size.

As you can see, there are a range of skip sizes which you can take advantage of depending on your project, but if you’re not sure which one will best suit you, or if you want to know what type of waste you can dispose of in a skip, contact the professionals at Powerday for more information. With skips available for those carrying out work at home as well as for larger commercial operations, they can discuss and arrange skip hire with you.

If you’re looking to sell your home while the market is still relatively buoyant, but you’ve been disappointed by recent valuations from estate agents, you needn’t despair. With these five cheap ways to increase the value of your home, you could command a figure more in-line with your expectations.

Everyone wants to get the best price for their home, but it is important to be realistic. There are very few things you can do to add tens of thousands of pounds on to the value without spending large sums, but take a look at our simple tips to spruce up your home and maximise what you get for it.

Paint your kitchen

Unless you have an unusually large kitchen, you shouldn’t need too much paint to give things a freshening up. You don’t need to paint the whole room either, simply choose to paint the cabinets or the walls a different colour, whichever needs brightening more.

Kitchens are one of the key rooms people are interested in, so keeping it fresh and inviting will help to boost how much value estate agents place on it. The less work potential buyers would have to do, the better.

Buff the bath

If you love a good bath, then you’ll understand the importance of buffing up your bathtub. Over the years they can become worn and grimey, but by giving it a good scrub, your tub could be made to look new. If a deep clean doesn’t work, you might consider investing in a new, cheap tub to give it the look and feel of a new suite.

Bathrooms, much like kitchens, are an area of the home people place a lot of value in, so presenting a clean and sharp bathtub will be a good investment.

New Caulk

Carrying on from the last point, with the knowledge that a bathroom is a prized part of any home, investing in new caulking is a wise move. Over the years you might have accumulated mould on your caulk or it may have become worn and discoloured. Applying a new layer of caulk after stripping out the old one is a simple task which quickly brightens up a bathroom once again.

Whether it’s around the shower tray, the bath or both, caulking won’t break the bank and will have an instant impact.

Declutter your home

Think back to when you viewed your property when buying – you were probably trying to imagine where furniture might go and what you would use certain rooms for. That logic applies when selling your home, since you want prospective buyers to see the potential it has and pay more to get it.

Declutter your home by getting rid of items you don’t need and tidying away those you don’t regularly use – rent space in a storage facility as an interim option if you have to, the cost will hopefully be surpassed by the extra amount added to the value of your property when it’s tidy and open.

Clean the carpets

We become so familiar with our homes that we sometimes fail to see the impact that time has on things. A carpet will be stepped, shuffled and possibly stamped on every day, so it stands to reason that they’ll become a little dirty and jaded looking.

With a professional clean, your carpets can be brought back to life and this will up the potential value of the home as they won’t look like they need replacing. You can hire a company to clean the carpet or simply hire the machinery and do it yourself.

Choosing a shading solution for your conservatory is a key decision that will enhance the comfort, usability and beauty of your space. While conservatory blinds are the traditional choice, conservatory sails are a cutting-edge alternative that offers so much more. But what are the differences between the two choices?